Comments on: Qantas upgraded to bailout class: inside the plush pollies’ loungehttps://www.crikey.com.au/2014/02/19/qantas-upgraded-to-bailout-class-inside-the-plush-pollies-lounge/
On politics, media, business, the environment and lifeMon, 19 Mar 2018 12:34:20 +0000hourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.4By: Honest Johnnyhttps://www.crikey.com.au/2014/02/19/qantas-upgraded-to-bailout-class-inside-the-plush-pollies-lounge/comment-page-2/#comment-270027
Thu, 20 Feb 2014 02:59:20 +0000http://www.crikey.com.au/?p=424978#comment-270027Democratic politics was never meant to spawn members to the “most exclusive club in the country”. They are our representatives, elected by us and should therefore be prepared to mix with us and be one of us. If they want to avoid being approached or solicited by a member of the public while they are travelling, they are in the wrong job. Perhaps Crikey should do a head count of who among our representatives have opted in and who has opted out.
]]>By: maccahttps://www.crikey.com.au/2014/02/19/qantas-upgraded-to-bailout-class-inside-the-plush-pollies-lounge/comment-page-2/#comment-269999
Wed, 19 Feb 2014 21:40:08 +0000http://www.crikey.com.au/?p=424978#comment-269999Pardon me. Chairmans Club members are to vote on giving the airline a bail out? No, I’m not cynical …
]]>By: drmickhttps://www.crikey.com.au/2014/02/19/qantas-upgraded-to-bailout-class-inside-the-plush-pollies-lounge/comment-page-2/#comment-269995
Wed, 19 Feb 2014 20:51:43 +0000http://www.crikey.com.au/?p=424978#comment-269995The other beauty of the system is that if ever the military embraces the use of drones, the “quaintarse livery” on a drone with a homing device set for the various chairmans lounges will have the added stealth advantage of not being seen through the frosted glass, nor be insulted at not being invited to enter. Solidarity bruvvers
]]>By: MJPChttps://www.crikey.com.au/2014/02/19/qantas-upgraded-to-bailout-class-inside-the-plush-pollies-lounge/#comment-269990
Wed, 19 Feb 2014 20:20:28 +0000http://www.crikey.com.au/?p=424978#comment-269990Liamj, I agree. Any society is only 3 Chairman lounge political invitations from a revolution.
]]>By: Liamjhttps://www.crikey.com.au/2014/02/19/qantas-upgraded-to-bailout-class-inside-the-plush-pollies-lounge/#comment-269984
Wed, 19 Feb 2014 11:34:48 +0000http://www.crikey.com.au/?p=424978#comment-269984Really we should thank Qantas, isolating the aristocrats from the peasants keeps the State blind and brings the guillotine that much closer.
]]>By: John Addishttps://www.crikey.com.au/2014/02/19/qantas-upgraded-to-bailout-class-inside-the-plush-pollies-lounge/#comment-269962
Wed, 19 Feb 2014 07:13:41 +0000http://www.crikey.com.au/?p=424978#comment-269962@ Brian Williams. That’s completely correct. But my point was about the obligation it creates in our politicians, not the absolute, and in this case negligible cost, to the company that delivers it.

@ Macca. Yes. Current Virgin CEO ran the Chairman’s Lounge for QF when he was there and is now building ‘The Club’ invitation-only lounges for his new gig. Politicians are also getting free membership to it.

I have the A frame billboard “BUY QANTAS SHARES” ( sub-head “They’re going cheap”) nearly ready. Just jump in the ute and walk up and down St Georges Terrace with my trusty megaphone.

Is that enough?

]]>By: Brian Williamshttps://www.crikey.com.au/2014/02/19/qantas-upgraded-to-bailout-class-inside-the-plush-pollies-lounge/#comment-269944
Wed, 19 Feb 2014 05:42:49 +0000http://www.crikey.com.au/?p=424978#comment-269944While accepting John’s point that the airlines are no doubt hoping for some kind of reciprocal gift, if and when it may be needed, the actual ‘cost’ of an upgrade is a fraction of the amount he claims.

Upgrades to Business Class are only given if there are unsold seats available in Business, or if someone else has paid for a seat in Business and is then bumped up to First to make a Business seat available. Either way, the poli and/or his family are merely taking up a seat that was going to be empty anyway, and having already paid for their ‘cattle class’ seat, the only benefit they’re getting is better meals and drinks and more leg room. As they were never going to pay for an upgrade in the first place, the real cost to the airline of these ‘extras’ is probably under $100.

]]>By: zut alorshttps://www.crikey.com.au/2014/02/19/qantas-upgraded-to-bailout-class-inside-the-plush-pollies-lounge/#comment-269925
Wed, 19 Feb 2014 04:56:50 +0000http://www.crikey.com.au/?p=424978#comment-269925Congratulations John Addis, the description of the Qantas Club lounge is a classic : ‘…stacked with greyed-out sky warriors and hi-vis miners loading up on chips and Cascade…’

With the Chairman’s Club full to the gunwales with politicians I’m thankful not to have been invited to join.